If Latinos Are Conservative, Why Do They Vote Democrat? (Video Interview)

By Napp Nazworth, Christian Post Reporter Tuesday, June 24, 2014

John Mendez, Director fo Faith Intiatives for The LIBRE Initiative, speaking on a panel, 'The Real Rainbow Coalition: Building Bridges to Minorities,' at the Faith and Freedom Coalition's 'Road to Majority' conference, Washington, D.C., June 21, 2014. — John Mendez, Director fo Faith Intiatives for The LIBRE Initiative, speaking on a panel, "The Real Rainbow Coalition: Building Bridges to Minorities," at the Faith and Freedom Coalition's "Road to Majority" conference, Washington, D.C., June 21, 2014. | (Photo: The Christian Post/Sonny Hong)

WASHINGTON — Latinos hold conservatives views along a range of important issues, but Democrats are more effective at mobilizing them for elections, John Mendez, Director of Faith Initiatives for The LIBRE Initiative, told The Christian Post.

Latinos overlap with conservatives in many areas, Mendez said. They "won't abort their children," they believe in the traditional view of marriage, the believe in hard work, and they are very patriotic (1.5 million Hispanics serve in the military).

If Latinos are conservative, why do they vote Democrat? CP asked Mendez Saturday at the Faith and Freedom Coalition's "Road to Majority" conference. Mendez was on a panel dealing with how conservatives could reach non-white voters called, "The Real Rainbow Coalition: Building Bridges to Minorities."

Two reasons, Mendez answered. First, Democrats have put a lot of effort into reaching Hispanics with their message. "They've reached out to them, they go where they're at, they educate them, they recruit them, they engage them in conversation," he said.

And second, Republican have not placed much effort into reaching Latinos. When Latinos do hear the conservative message, Mendez said, they find out, "we're not liberal, we happen to be conservatives."

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